elasmobranchs

Example:The shark was a top predator in the ocean ecosystem.

Definition:Cartilaginous fish with pointed snouts and strong jaws, belonging to the group elasmobranchs, which includes rays and skates.

Example:The diver's net was filled with rays gliding gracefully through the water.

Definition:Cartilaginous fish that are flat-bodied and pectoral fins that are usually enlarged to form disks, which are also part of the elasmobranchs group.

Example:The local aquarium features a large tank with skates and rays.

Definition:Cartilaginous fish that are similar to rays but possess a more compressed body with a long, flattened tail, also classified within the elasmobranchs.

Example:Unlike bony fish, elasmobranchs have a skeleton made of cartilage, which makes them more flexible.

Definition:A type of dense connective tissue in elasmobranchs that forms the skeleton, rather than the bony structure of some vertebrates.

Example:The discovery of gill slits in a fossil led paleontologists to identify it as an elasmobranch.

Definition:Five to seven openings on either side of the head of elasmobranchs that lead to the gills, allowing them to extract oxygen from water.